The Federal Government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors NARD have reached an agreement to avert the association’s planned nationwide indefinite strike following a three-hour meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The meeting, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, brought together NARD leaders and key government officials, including the Ministers of Labour, Health and Finance, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation and payroll officials.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, said the discussions produced timelines for resolving outstanding issues, including salary delays, promotion arrears, unpaid allowances and other welfare concerns.
He said the intervention had addressed the major grievances behind the strike threat, but noted that the association’s National Executive Council NEC would make the final decision on suspending the action.
NARD had planned to begin an indefinite strike from 8:00 a.m. on August 10, 2026, over unresolved financial obligations, welfare issues and delays in implementing previous agreements with the government.
Suleiman said the meeting resolved the dispute over meal allowances for resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH, with implementation expected within one week.
He also disclosed that government directed that house officers’ salaries be paid on or before the 10th day of every month to prevent recurring delays.
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On the outstanding Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA, he said the Ministries of Labour and Health had been tasked with expediting negotiations ahead of the next budget cycle.
The association also raised concerns over attacks on healthcare workers, revealing that 31 doctors and more than 20 other health workers had been assaulted in the past 10 months.
Suleiman said the Ministry of Health would strengthen hospital security, create safer working conditions and launch public awareness campaigns against violence targeting medical personnel.
He added that Gbajabiamila had committed to supporting legislation that would make assaults on healthcare workers an aggravated offence.
The meeting further addressed outstanding hazard and specialist allowance arrears. Suleiman said the government corrected the allowance structure in February 2026, but arrears covering 19 months from July 2024 remained unresolved.
Although he declined to disclose the amount involved, he said a government review showed the liability was lower than earlier projections and would be manageable.
The resolutions will now be presented to NARD’s NEC, which is expected to determine whether the planned strike will be formally suspended.
The development marks another attempt to resolve recurring disputes between resident doctors and government over remuneration, welfare and implementation of agreements in Nigeria’s health sector.